Production of "a gem" of a comedy set in the Emerald Isle is to start in Sharbot Lake this week.

North Frontenac Little Theatre is bringing a touch of the Irish to the area as it holds auditions for the North American Premiere of the award-winning drama, Ciara's Coming Home, written by international author and playwright, Glenys O'Connell.

The play, which NFLT President, Pamela Giroux, described as "a gem" will be staged in late April and early May at Oso Hall, Sharbot Lake, and the production will celebrate the theatre group's fifth decade in operation.

Auditions for aspiring actors between the ages of 11 & 60 years will be held on February 18 & 19 at Oso Hall (see details on page ...) and candidates with no prior acting experience as well as seasoned thespians are welcome, said Director, Adrian O'Connell

The play reveals with hilarious unpredictability, the chaos that ensues when a young, New York-based Irishwoman suddenly decides to pay a return visit to her rural Irish farm family home in the year 2004.

The play was penned by Arden resident, Glenys O'Connell, while she and her husband, Adrian, were on sabbatical in Ireland in the early 2000s and was staged in five regional theatres throughout Ireland at the time, picking up several awards along the way. Subsequently, after the couple returned to Canada in 2007, the comedy won first prize for original drama in North America in a contest jointly sponsored by the Government of Ireland and the North American Gaelteacht (Irish language) Association, based in Ottawa.

Said NFLT President, Pamela Giroux -  "We're really delighted to be able to present this play in the spring. I read the script and I just loved it. It's a real gem."

Rehearsals for Ciara's Coming Home will take place at Oso Hall throughout March and April, said Director, Adrian O'Connell, adding that the play presented a great opportunity for people who'd always wanted to act but never gotten round to it.

"Many people who have described themselves as basically shy, including, famously, the late Hollywood idol, Kirk Douglas, have gone on record over time, to say how performing on stage changed their lives for ever, making them far more confident about themselves and able to speak in public without fear," said O'Connell, adding that he himself had learned a great deal from professional directors who had worked on plays in Ireland, including those written by his wife, Glenys.

The North Frontenac Little Theatre production of ‘A Christmas Story’ captured much of the irreverent humour that has made the 1983 film of the same name such a popular Christmas classic.

The play is based on the movie, for which the characters and scenario are all lifted from the 1966 novel “In god we Trust, all others pay cash” by popular radio host/humorist Jean Shepherd.

Although fictional there are elements that are taken from Shepherd’s upbringing in northern Indiana. He had a brother Randy, there were kids named Shwartz and Flick registered in the school he attended as a kid, and in his radio broadcasts he sometimes referred to his father as ‘the old man’

The narrator or adult Ralph, in both the movie and the play, has a similar persona to Shepherd’s on the radio.

The success of the movie, and the production by the NFLT, hinged on creating a sense of nostalgia tinged with wit rather than caramel sweetness. The lead character Ralph, played by Llachlan Hammond, really, really wants a Red Rider BB Gun. He’s not a really good or a really bad kid, a really smart kid or a really heroic kid, he is just a kid who wants something specific for Christmas.

The production featured mostly young performers, supported by only three adults, Kelly Meckling, who played Ralph’s mother and also directed the play, John Stephens as the Old Man, and Brian Robertson as adult Ralph/narrator.

And, as so often happens, the kids stole the show. Although it was sometimes s struggle to get out the entire name of the rifle, Llachlan Hammond did a good job as Ralph, which was difficult because he was in most every scene and the play revolved around his quest. His friends, Schwartz (Bradey Merrigan) and Flick (Tristan Hammond) did fine work supporting his quest while dealing with their own concerns, which included submitting to Scut Farkas (Sloane Putnam) who was the picture of a nasty bully. The two girls, Helen (Anne Wooby) and Esther Jane (Jocelyn Tryon) were charming. Ralph’s brother Randy (Carmen Tryon) had a lot of opportunity for physical comedy throughout the play and took full advantage, and as the teacher Miss Shields (Hallie Hearns) did well to keep the students at bay during the classroom scenes.

Among the adults, Kelly Meckling was the voice of reason in the home as Mother, portraying a role that required much tolerance for both her husband and two sons. John Stephen had a great time portraying the Old Man as bombastic and foolish in equal measure, and Brian Robertson relished many of the double-edged lines in the narration.

The set design, by Brian Robertson and Jeff Siamon, and artistry/decoration overseen by Carol Pepper was very effective and versatile, helping to keep what is a rather long production to about 2 hours in running time, with a 15 minute intermission.

Once again NFLT has managed to put together a Christmas show that will delight audiences for this Christmas season. For many people “A Christmas Story” may evoke memories of the movie, by the same name, that they watched growing up in the 1980’s. It is a perfect family show to prepare everyone for the festivities surrounding the celebration of Christmas. Our young actors are hard at work getting into the character of their roles. Watching over them during rehearsal is Andrea Duggan who helps with prompting them and getting them on and off stage. Since the set was put in place on Nov. 13 the kids now are getting used to exits and entrances and blocking with many scene changes. Brian Robertson along with Jeff Siamon constructed the set at the Tichborne rehearsal Hall. Once it was completed Carol Pepper used her artistic talents to paint and decorate the set. She engaged 2 student helpers, Allison Chacon and Austin Squibb,  from GREC (who were working on their Community volunteer hours), to paint and eventually move the set to GREC. As well as painting Carol also created some of the props and was helped by Joanne Pickett and Mike Steeves. Linda Bush is a busy lady keeping track of the many props used during different scenes and making sure the kids don’t walk away with the intriguing ones. Karin Ferguson Reynolds, Stage Manager, is doing a terrific job with all the scene changes and making sure everything is done efficiently and quiet as possible backstage. And again Geoff Murray has been busily sewing up costumes for all the kids. It’s retro 80’s fashion folks and funky too. So good to have him as part of the team. Jeff Siamon is our lighting technician and Adam Parker is doing sound effects to further enhance the experience. Watch out for those Bumpus hounds they make quite a ruckus. Adam will also provide a musical interlude at intermission.

Be sure to come and see a lively show with engaging young actors and a humorous story to tell.

December 5,6,7th at 7 p.m. and Sunday Dec. 8th at 1:30 p.m. at GREC Auditorium.

Tickets available at Pharmacy, Amazing Dollar Store and Cardinal Café and also at the door.

Pamela Giroux (Producer)

In her address to the North Frontenac Little Theatre’s 40 years celebration Friday night in Tichborne, Nina Jenkins posed the question.

“I wonder if the group who got together for Alice in Wonderland ever dreamed it would still be going 40 years later.”

“No,” said John Pariselli, a charter member who acted as president and artistic director for the company’s first two years.

“We got together with some creative people and the original plan was to do one production (Alice in Wonderland),” he said.

But Pariselli had been involved in acting in one way or another since he was 8 years old. In fact, he was on live radio for three years in Toronto when he was 10 in the CKEY production Peter and the Dwarf (“I was Peter,” he said).

But, continued to approach life in an artistic fashion, including a long teaching career.

“Teaching is inspiring creativity in kids,” he said.

So, small wonder he’d be involved in “about half” of the 68 shows NFLT has produced over the years, as actor, director, whatever was needed.

“Acting is an opportunity to take on another person’s persona,” he said. “To delve into that person’s psyche.

“Directing is helping other people do that.”

“No,” was also the way current president Pam Giroux responded.

“I saw an ad in the North Frontenac News and thought ‘that’s for me,’” she said. “I was a young mom of 35, had a two-year-old and three other boys and I wanted a creative outlet.

“I played Alice and had the most lines.”

All of her four sons have been in NFLT productions and one, Cam, even went on to win best actor in the Sears Drama Festival. Her husband, Marcel, has served as producer.

Even so, it was “an opportunity to get out of the house and leave the kids with Marcel,” she said. “I am certainly proud to have been a part of all this.

“And now, we want some new blood — that’s what keeps it fresh.”

“Who would have thunk it?” said Brian Robertson, who has “done every job there is to do in this theatre company.”

Robertson said he thought the company has managed to continue this long is because “it captured the imagination of the city folk who ended up here but also the locals as well.

“It’s been a place of refuge, home, family.”

Jenkins echoed those sentiments.

“It’s the many talented volunteers, the hours,” she said. “Lighting, programs, stages, it’s impossible to estimate how many hours it takes.

“For some, acting is their thing. For others, it’s being behind the scenes.

“All the jobs are important — whatever job they do is important.”

From “Anne of Green Gables” to “Annie”; “Tom Sawyer” to “Aladdin”, children have always figured prominently in North Frontenac Little Theatre productions. To recognize this fact in this, our 40th anniversary year, students were invited to participate in a special poster contest so they too could celebrate and demonstrate their appreciation of our live theatre company.

Posters were to focus on the celebration of NFLT’s 40th Anniversary, were to have an original concept and design, and could not be computer aided.

The contest was open to students in Central and North Frontenac. All participants received a special anniversary certificate and the winners got monetary awards as well.

Submissions were dropped off at the Cardinal Café in Sharbot Lake and totalled twenty-eight by the May 1st deadline.

NFLT thanks all the contestants for honouring our theatre company with their art, and is pleased to announce the winners:

Intermediate Division - 1st Place: Samantha Driscoll, Harrowsmith Public School, Gr. 7; 2nd place: Sarah Powell, GREC, Gr. 7; 3rd place: Amy Watkins, GREC, Gr. 7

Junior Division - 1st Place: Jenna Rose GREC Gr. 6; 2nd Place: Sloane Putnam GREC, Gr. 6; 3rd Place: Isabelle Tryon, LOLPS, Gr. 4

Primary Division - 1st Place: Emily Parks LOLPS Gr. 3; 2nd Place: Ted Saunders, LOLPS, Gr. 3

The winning posters are on display at NFLT’s Tichborne Hall. The public is invited to see them, along with other memorabilia on Friday, 7:00 pm, August 16th, 2019 at the “Tichborne Hall Open House and Listen Along”. Please come celebrate with us, won’t you?

Writer/director Peggy Hallett talking with cast following final rehearsal of her new play The Dressing Room, which will be running this week (Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 7:30) at Domino Theatre, 52 Church Street, Kingston.

Hallett says the idea for the play came to her while sitting backstage waiting to go on in a musical years ago; “The idea that there was actually a story, lots of drama and comedy, in the ladies backstage dressing room percolated with me for awhile. I realized it could work, and got moving on it.” She took her script-in-process to several reading groups for critiques, including a play reading at Domino. This spring she began casting and production. This is the final product of a number of rewrites and fine tunings.

The whole comedy takes place backstage in an aging theatre, over a period of several years, each scene set during the production of a different musical. The all-female cast runs from age 15 to 65.

Dress rehearsals can be pretty grim, but this one went well with very few hitches, though it is to be hoped that the unnecessarily complicated set changes will be speedier on opening night.

Hallett, a Sydenham resident, is retired from her teaching job, but works more than full-time painting, writing and editing. Come to her play, and enjoy the additional treat of seeing some of her artwork in the lobby.

The Boy Wonder completed a successful four day run at Granite Ridge Education Centre on Sunday afternoon. The Mother’s Day matinee had a modest audience, but sellouts on the previous two nights and a very well-attended opening night on Thursday made it one of the most popular productions for the 40-year-old community theatre company in recent years.

The play was both an original work and a throwback at the same time. It was conceived, written and directed by long time NFLT lighting director, Jeff Siamon.

Siamon is a fan of old-time musicals of the 1930’s and 40’s that were often about putting on a musical. The Boy Wonder includes a play within a play, and is constructed around songs that were drawn from the post World War I era.

The Boy Wonder of the title is Guy Martin (Christopher Hall). At the beginning of the play, he is a few days from the opening of his make or break musical “A Woeful Love” when his star and lover, Deloris (Angela Cowdy), quits. It takes him quite a while to realise what the audience has known from the start: that the typist, Monica Jones (Danielle Hall), is destined to be the star of the show and of his heart. It will take a while, but in the end “A Joyful Love” ends up being destined for Broadway successful and Guy and Monica have become an item.

There is a point, about halfway through the play, when Monica tells Guy something that, in retrospect, Jeff Siamon was also telling the audience. In the scene where the title of “A Woeful Love” is ultimately changed, Monica tells Guy that he should turn his play into a revue, because the music tells the story anyway and the audience comes out for the music, not the storyline.

This was certainly the case with A Boy Wonder, which had 24 musical numbers, creating an opportunity for not only the two leads to sing several numbers, both together and apart, but for a number of secondary characters to perform one or two songs. The chorus, as well, took centre stage at one point.

The best thing about A Boy Wonder were the musical performances. The two leads, who are newly weds in real life, complemented each other well. Danielle Hall, well known to NFLT fans from when she was a youngster, has an ease on the stage and the comic timing to keep the action flowing, as well as the singing talent to navigate a wide variety of songs. Christopher Hall, who comes from a family that is steeped in music, seemed to hit every note effortlessly and beautifully. Together, they carried the play, and some of their performances (hers: Second Hand Rose, Melancholy Baby, his: Anytime, After I Say I’m Sorry and together: Put Your Arms Around Me) were among the highlights of the production.

Other major characters included Mitzi (Megan Hall - Christopher’s sister) and Summer Storm (Sarah McCullough). They are both first time performers who both fully inhabited their roles, Mitzi as the plucky theatre insider and confidant to Monica, and Summer as a burlesque performer looking for a way into the legitimate theater. They made the most of their scenes, and belted out their songs when the opportunity came.

NFLT veterans, Brian Robertson as Victor and Angela Cowdy as Deloris, also mugged their way through in admirable fashion, as did Braidey Merigan as Wendell Bradshaw. In non-singing roles, Greg Morris as Guy Martin’s unsupportive father, Terence Martin, was the picture of cold villainy, and Marc Veno as the gangster, Eddie Bradshaw, was in full comic book mode.

Martina Field and Virginia Beckett were positively ditsy as sister chorus girls without a lot of talent. The chorus: Pam Giroux, Joan Hollywood, Linda Bush, Margo McCullough and Carol Morris, added depth to many of the musical numbers. Rounding out the cast were Rudy Hollywood, John Stephen and Evangeline Michie as the porter, bartender, and flower girl, respectively.

The costumes (Geoffrey Murray), set design (Steve Scantlebury) and staging of the Boy Wonder were also effective, thanks to the efficient work by the stage crew under stage manager, Barb Scantlebury, who kept the numerous set changes quick.

The Boy Wonder ran long - almost 3 hours with two intermissions. Although it could have been shorter, the quality of the production numbers was at a very high level, keeping the audience fully engaged to the end during the Friday night performance that I attended. John Inglis on piano and Adam Parker on a programmed keyboard that simulated a fuller orchestration also did well, although on some occasions the music was too loud, making the vocal solos harder to hear.

The Boy Wonder was a massive undertaking for Jeff Siamon and the NFLT, a fitting kick-off for its 40th anniversary year.

The North Frontenacs Little Theatre production featuring classic theater tunes from the 1930's with an original storyline, runs from Thursday to Saturday (May 9-11) at 7pm, and on Sunday, May 12 (Mothers Day) at 1pm.

The Boy Wonder – production crew
by Pam Giroux

Behind the scenes of every production, there is a hardworking crew of dedicated volunteers who generously give hours of their time to make sure the show happens. The Boy Wonder is set in New York city on Broadway in the 1940’s, so the construction and design of the set reflects that period in history. Steve Scantlebury and his wife, Barb, were able to create a set which met with Director, Jeff Siamons’, greatest expectations. Not only did they spend hours at school working out details but also at home where they manufactured the signs and poster art which decorate the flats. Barb is also Stage Manager, and along with Steve, they keep the Props people on their toes with each scene change. As well as performing on stage, Rudy and Joan Hollywood, Linda Bush and John Stephen help with the props, do set changes and listen for Barb’s cues. It’s a busy place back stage.

At performance time, the House Manager’s role comes in to play with the 50/50 raffle at intermission, setting up chairs and getting the lobby prepared for patrons in the audience. This time, Ian and Betty Anne Willens are taking care of these preparations. And then at intermissions, Dianne Lake, a long-time supporter of NFLT, will be supervising the Canteen and providing refreshments.

One of the region’s best-kept secrets in its own right, The Centre Culturel Frontenac has been steadfast in showcasing some of French Ontario and Canada’s best-kept secrets in the areas of live music, theatre and comedy. The 2017-18 offerings have been wide ranging: from the quirky, charming musical stylings of a denim-clad acoustic band, to an uproarious and poignant white-trash comedic play, to a songwriters’ circle featuring an eclectic mix of emerging Franco-Ontarian musicians.

The CCF also brings in well-renowned French-Canadian talent. In recent months, comedian Philippe Laprise and singer-songwriter Luc de la Rocheliere have made appearances.

Founded in 1978, the CCF began operations in earnest in 1982 in a century home on Frontenac Street before moving in 1996 into its current location on Dalton Avenue. To this day, its mandate remains to unite the francophone community, but its programming appeals to a wide audience. As Executive Director Chantal Prud’homme explains, the organization aims to reach the entirety of the Frontenac region, as well as the Thousand Islands, including non-French speakers. Plays are generally subtitled and, explains Prud’homme, “there is a richness and a musicality to the language that make it accessible without understanding everything that is said.”

Prud’homme notes that one of the priorities of the CCF is to promote French Language artists and productions from within Ontario. Théâtre français de Toronto, along with theatre company l’Irréductible petit peuple, present the play “Avant l’archipel,” On February 21. It is an unconventional love story of a woman who grows dragonfruit and relies on her tears to sustain them. When she falls in love with a troubadour and is no longer prone to crying, her livelihood is threatened. Matters are further complicated when, in an effort to save the fruit, she cries so much that the peninsula she lives on floods and becomes an island, cutting her off from her lover.

The play is driven by the two lead characters, Brevelaire – the troubadour and Lenaique, the dragonfuit farmer. Much of the story is presented through song – duets sung by the pair with Brevelaire’s ukulele accompaniment. Throughout, the actors improvise and summon audience participation, which gives each performance moments of humour distinct to that evening’s audience.

The remainder of the 2017-18 season includes a contemporary dance performance late March, a spoken-word arts concert early April, and a French-language comedy gala late May. Performances are held at the CCF’s Octave Theatre, 711 Dalton Avenue.

The North Frontenac Little Theatre showed presented an adorable collection of skits, songs and musical numbers last weekend. The heart of the show was seeing familiar faces, in memorable situations, all coming together. The News sat down with one of the most important people in the whole production, stage Manager and long time NFLT participant Margo McCullough. This was Margo’s 9th production with NFLT, her first as stage manager. Her only performing role, was that of a dancing tree in the Wizard of Oz.

“From the beginning, I thought, hey I can do this. I am so thankful that (Director) Brian Robertson asked me. He’s such an amazing, talented and well spoken person. I couldn’t say no. I feel more comfortable behind the scenes.”

The show started with an Indigenous story, grounding the show in the history of Frances and Mary Sharbot with drumming by Sisters of the Drum in front of a dreamy treeline set. The Sunshine Sketches takes a seasonal look at this area and those changes of season are represented by a 4 part quest for the perfect butter tart with Zeke from Zealand and Martha Stewpot, with a great cameo from David Yerxa selling Lion’s 50/50 draw tickets.

The First Act of the show was anchored by Autumn with the Wedding, a one act play written in North Frontenac that was put on 26 years ago in 1991. It is the story of a different kind of shotgun wedding, held during duck season, and it is still entertaining today even if some of the fashions of the times have changed.

Also in the first half, the cast showed off all of their singing, dancing, and musical talents with a rendition of the Log Driver’s Waltz, The Kick and Push and the Oklahoma inspired “Our Township Song” which includes the classic line “Where the granite’s steep, the soil’s not deep but something makes us call it home.”

The Second Act of the play took the audience through the winter months with the full cast singing The Snowmobile song, Two bearded blues brothers from Oso, a trip to the Treasure
Trunk, a good old hot tub soak and a classic wish for summer at the Cottage, a number from last year’s Turtle Crossings. The sketch about the inner working of meetings, The Ladies Committee was a hilarious piece which had four people playing committee members and four people dressed in black voicing the committee member’s thoughts. The cast finished off the night with The Frontenac County Anniversary Song written last year to commemorate 150 years of Frontenac County.

All in all it was a sweet event of community theatre, by the community, for the community and filled with maple sugar. The full interview with stage manager extraordinaire Margo McCullough will be posted shortly.